Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has acknowledged it was a mistake to announce cuts to teaching resources for some of the country's most disadvantaged schools.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland programme, he added that any changes to the plans at this stage will have an impact on other areas of the education system, as savings will have to be found elsewhere.

Yesterday, the government defeated a private members bill introduced by Sinn Fein calling for the reversal of cuts to schools supported by the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme by 85 votes to 42.

However, during a debate on the issue, Mr Quinn signalled the Department of Education may be considering a change of course with the announcement of a review into the cuts, which is expected to be completed within four weeks.

This was described by the Irish National Teacher's Organisation as a "a very significant development".

General secretary of the union Sheila Nunan said any cuts to the number of teachers in DEIS schools will harm pupils' development, as educators are "frontline when it comes to services to disadvantaged children".

Written by Donal Walsh

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